Fruit, Real or Fake are Lovely in Decorative Bowls

I was pondering fruit bowls and was wondering why everyone all over the world likes them, whether they be filled with real fruit or handcrafted fruit items of many differing materials.  I couldn't find a definitive answer but I'm going to guess it's just like having vases of flowers around the house, to add charm, decoration and ambiance.  Of course, I suppose most of us would only put decorative fruit bowls in kitchens, dining rooms or living rooms.  Flowers of course can go in any room.  I myself, have a lovely handmade plate from Fez, Morocco on my counter in my kitchen that at this moment I have oranges, apples and an avocado in.  And as I look around my condo I realize I have dried lavender bunches hanging in my living room and both bedrooms.  Wrapping up this week's  scavenger hunter's theme of fruit at Ecrater Stores Network I chose a lovely bowl of agate fruit from Sirocco's Curios.  It does have a few eggs in the basket, not sure how eggs correlate to fruit, but I guess you always get a fruit garnish with your scrambled eggs at restaurants. 

So stop on by to check out this lovely assortment and visit all the other fine merchants at ESN who have fruit items that you may fancy.

I Love Fruit! But I don't eat Bananas...

I do love fruit, almost all kinds of fruit.  The only fruit I can't eat "as is" is the lovely banana.  I can eat it in smoothies, breads, and of course a banana split (yummy!) but I can't just peel one and eat it, it makes the roof of my mouth itch so bad, and I then look like a dufus because I try to scratch the roof of my mouth with my tongue, so I therefore look very monkey like.  So I don't eat bananas.  But fruit is the theme of the week at Ecrater Stores Network and while I was rummaging around my store looking for something to write about I came across this lovely Pineapple Shape Wooden Bowl.  It's just a mini bowl, but perfect for a single size serving of just about any kind of fruit, or candy or mints, or potpourri, or... whatever you like!  So stop on by Le Petit Marché to look around and see what other household goods I have available. 

Tasty Chilled Sangria for Summer

There's nothing like a nice chilled sangria for a summer party and the theme at ESN this week is "cool beverage".   Back in college we used to make huge metal tubs of the stuff for our parties and used a ladle to scoop it into our plastic cups.  There's tons of recipes on how to make it, and I don't remember exactly how we made it back then, but my tastes are a bit more sophisticated (or so I'd like to think!) these days so I don't drink from metal tubs anymore either.  I like to serve it in lovely clear pitchers so all the colorful fruit and liquor shines through brightly.  Le Petit Marche has a lovely Italian Wine Decanter for sale for your next fancy party. And I've included 2 Sangria recipes if you'd like to give it a try!  Look at the differences and the similarities of the two.

Italian Crystal Wine Decanter

 From Emeril Lagasse

 Ingredients

• 1 (750-ml) bottle red wine
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur (recommended: triple sec or Grand Marnier)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 orange, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 unwaxed apple, cored, and cut into thin wedges
• 1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling water, chilled

Directions

Combine everything but the sparkling water in a large plastic container or glass pitchers. Cover and chill completely, 1 to 2 hours. When ready to serve, add the sparkling water. 

From Bobby Flay

Ingredients

• 2 bottles red Spanish table wine
• 1 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup triple sec
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup simple syrup, or more to taste (equal parts sugar and water, heated until sugar dissolves, cooled)
• Orange slices
• Apple slices
• Blackberries
• Pomegranate seeds

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and let stand in a tightly sealed container or pitcher for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator before serving.

How and What Does Your Garden Grow?

I tried doing container gardening a few years ago since all I have is a balcony (I live on the 2nd floor). It was quite fun and I had tomatoes, 3 varieties of peppers, strawberries, and the herbs; rosemary, basil, mint and parsley.  And lots of flowers as usual. It was some work and working full time I didn't devote as much time, and although it thrived and I managed to keep those nasty huge green tomato worms at bay I decided last year I'd just do the herbs and flowers.  Now this year, I'm even a year lazier than last, so it will be just flowers.  I hung a few prettily painted and decorative birdfeeders and the finches and sparrows come and visit, but they toss the seeds all over the place. Dirty but delightful little critters! :)

So the ESN blog theme this week is "How does your Garden Grow".  But I have nothing in my store that has to do with gardening, but it got me to thinking, I bet the Boutenko family gardens.  And I have a book about their journey to eating raw foods: Raw Family - A True Story of Awakening.

The front of the book has photos of all kinds of veggies, fruits and even flowers, so all bases covered here!  You can find this book at Le Petit Marche